The 10th annual StaffDNA Cure Bowl was billed as a battle of champions between the Mid-American Conference’s Ohio Bobcats and Conference USA’s Jacksonville State Gamecocks in Orlando, Florida’s game for a cause. The result earned the MAC bragging rights as the Bobcats clawed past the Gamecocks, 30-27.

After both sides came out flat on offense, Ohio quarterback and UCF transfer Parker Navarro scampered in the game’s first points.  He then tacked on another touchdown run to put the Bobcats up 14-0 with 1:15 left in the opening quarter.

Facing the threat of a deep hole to dig out of, JSU answered back three seconds later when the Conference USA Player of the Year, quarterback Tyler Huff, delivered a 75-yard strike that wide receiver Cam Vaughn took to the house on a slant pattern. Vaughn’s receiving touchdown was the longest offensive scoring play in Cure Bowl history. This made it 14-7 before the end of the opening quarter.

Vaughn finished with 181 yards on 10 catches that featured 92 yards after the catch. Not to be outdone, Jarod Bowie hauled in four catches for 108 yards for JSU.

With around 2:30 left in the game after Navarro scored a third rushing touchdown, Ohio linebacker Shay Taylor was ejected for stomping an opposing player. After the ensuing scuffle in the red zone, not only did the Gamecocks fail to score, but they missed a 35-yard field goal try.

Ohio took the ball from their 18 with 1:19 before halftime and charged down the field in 41 seconds for a fourth touchdown. Running back Anthony Tyus II turned in the only receiving touchdown on the day for the Bobcats on a long 11-yard shovel pass from Navarro making the halftime score 27-7 after a missed extra point.

After the half, JSU managed to disrupt a punt in the Bobcats endzone that only went 13 yards. The Gamecocks pecked their way into the endzone on a run by seven-yard by Huff. That score made it 27-14 five minutes into the third quarter.

After trading fumbles on JSU’s side of the field (with fumble recoveries from Ohio defensive end Bradley Weaver and Jacksonville State linebacker Morven Joseph) the Gamecocks made it back to the red zone with hopes to put the game within one score. Those hopes were dashed when early in the 4th quarter linebacker Blake Leake intercepted Huff. Ohio turned that into the first made field goal of the game when kicker Gianni Spetic booted in a 38-yarder to make it 30-14.

Huff and the Gamecocks continued fighting in the final quarter to make it a close game, but a big run by freshman running back Ricky Hunt Jr. put the Bobcats in position to kneel out the clock to secure the win. JSU’s passer finished with a Cure Bowl record 363 yards passing completing 21 on his 32 passes with a score and an interception.

As the Player of the Game, Navarro’s legs were a major contributor in the contest as he posted 118 yards on 14 carries for three touchdowns compared to his 19 completions on 28 attempts passing with 227 yards and one score. He tied a Cure Bowl record with four all-purpose touchdowns.

Tyus had a remarkable game as well in support with 123 yards on 26 carries.